Teacher’s Guide

Chemicals & Human Health

Lung Toxicology Activity

1. Pre-test - Have the students answer the questions on the worksheet prior to visiting
the website.
2. Have the students go to the Chemicals and Human Health website and click on the
Lung Toxicology Problem Set. www.biology.arizona.edu/chh
3. Have the students find the correct answer to the questions as they go through the
Lung Toxicology Problem Set.
4. Answers & scoring rubric

Pre-Questions Correct # Points Explain

(circle the answer Answer (explain the correct answer)
you think is correct) (write in
the
correct
answer
from
website)
Which of the following is NOT B 1 – for correct Draw a picture and label the parts of the
found in the human lung? answer lung:

A. bronchiole
B. trachea 4 – one for
C. bronchi each correctly
D. alveoli drawn &
labeled part

Which of the following is the D 1 – for correct Approximately how many are there in the
smallest part of the lung where answer adult human body?
gas exchange occurs?
1 – for 300 million
A. bronchiole explanation
B. trachea
C. bronchi
D. alveoli

Which of the following alveolar A 1 – for correct Draw a picture that includes all of the cell
cell types clean particles answer types and label:
deposited in the lungs?
5 – one point
A. macrophages for each
B. epithelium type I correctly
C. epithelium type II drawn &

1
D. fibroblasts
E. capillaries
One of the primary functions of
the alveoli is to create a large
surface area in the
lungs. Why is a large surface are
so important?
A. for energy storage
B. to remove toxins from the
blood
C. to store oxygen for future use
D. for gas exchange
E. for the krebs cycle
When do the alveoli develop in
lungs in humans?
A. during the first 1-2 years of
life
B. in the 1-5th week of pregnancy
C. between 3 and 5 years of age
D. during the last 6 weeks of
pregnancy
E. continually throughout a
person's lifetime
Which of the following causes
the most deaths in the US?
A. AIDS
B. motor vehicles
C. homicide
D. smoking
E. alcohol
Which statement do you agree
labeled part
D 1 – for correct Explain: The primary function of the lung
answer is gas exchange. The alveoli allow this
gas exchange to occur quickly because of
1 – for the the large surface area.
explanation
A 1 – for correct Describe the stages of lung development:
answer
0-5 week old embryo: major airways
5 – one point (trachea, bronchi) form
for each 5-16 week old embryo: bronchi branch
correct stage and subdivide
of 16-26 week old embryo:
development lung cells differentiate into different cell
types
1-2 points 26 week old embryo – birth:
depending on airways expand and grow
length and 1-2 year old baby: alveoli form by the
accuracy of formation of additional septa
explanation
*Bonus Question: How do you think
second-hand smoke may affect a child?
Explain
Since lung development occurs while in
the womb and in the first two years of life,
exposure to second-hand smoke may
adversely affect a child’s lungs. This can
cause breathing problems like asthma.
D 1 – for correct How is that attributed to the most deaths?
answer Smoking can cause death in several ways
including stroke, heart disease, lung
1 – for cancer, emphysema and other diseases
explanation and cancers.
B 1 – for correct Explain why.
2
with?
A. Environmental tobacco smoke
(ETS), also known as second-
hand smoke, has LESS toxic
compounds than directly inhaled
tobacco smoke.
B. Environmental tobacco smoke
(ETS), also known as second-
hand smoke, has MORE toxic
compounds than directly inhaled
tobacco smoke.
What is PM10?
A. the number of packs per day
that cause lung cancer in 10% of
the population
B. particles which are small
enough to be deposited in the
lungs
C. a measure of the amount of
pollen in a certain volume of air
D. a measure of the severity of an
asthma attack
Oxidants are one toxic
component of cigarette smoke.
Why are they dangerous?
A. They block surfactant
secretion so that alveoli collapse.
B. They block the oxygen
carrying capacity of hemoglobin.
C. They cause cilia to quit
beating so lungs get clogged with
particles.
D. They can damage the DNA of
lung cells much like the sun
damages skin cells.
Asthma is caused by decreased
airflow in and out of the lungs
due to:
A. small abnormalities in airways
B. reversible bronchial spasms
C. destruction of alveolar walls
D. allergic reaction in lung tissues
answer ETS has more toxic compounds because
the smoke sucked through the cigarette
2 – one per and inhaled by the smoker has been
question in burned at a higher temperature then the
explain smoke that is coming off the end of the
column cigarette. This higher temperature
burning destroys or inactivates some of
the toxic compounds.
About how many toxic compounds are in
cigarette smoke? Over 40
B 1 – for correct How does this hurt the lungs?
answer Particles less that 10 microns in diameter
can get all the way down into the alveoli
2 – one for in the lungs. They can cause tissue
each example damage as they hit the lung tissue. These
included. tiny particles can also damage the lung by
causing irritation which can lead to
scarring of the lung tissue.
D 1 – for correct What disease can be the end result of this
answer damage?
1 – for correct Cancer
disease
B 1 – for correct List three responses in the lung that cause
answer asthma.
muscle spasms in the airways, swelling of
5 – one for cells lining the airways, and excess mucus
each answer in the airways
per question
What is a “trigger?” List 2 examples. A
trigger is a factor in the environment that
can cause an asthma attack in an
asthmatic person, but does not effect non-
asthmatics. Exercise, smoke, allergens,
dust
3
 Chemicals & Human Health
Lung Toxicology Problem Set: Student Sheet

Directions

1. Answer the pre-questions.

2. Go to the website www.biology.arizona.edu/chh and click on the link to the Lung
Toxicology Problem Set.
3. Write the correct answer in the column labeled Correct Answer. All of the answers
can be found in the Lung Toxicology Problem Set.
4. Explain the correct answer.

Pre-Questions Correct Answer Explain

(circle the answer
you think is correct)
Which of the following is
NOT found in the human
lung?
(write the letter of the correct (explain the correct answer)
answer from the website)
Draw a picture and label the
parts of the lung:

A. bronchiole
B. trachea
C. bronchi
D. alveoli

Which of the following is the Approximately how many

smallest part of the lung where are there in the human
gas exchange occurs? body:
A. bronchiole
B. trachea
C. bronchi
D. alveoli

Which of the following Draw a picture that includes

alveolar cell types clean all of the cell types and
particles deposited in the label:
lungs?

A. macrophages
B. epithelium type I
C. epithelium type II
D. fibroblasts
E. capillaries
One of the primary functions Explain:
of the alveoli is to create a
large surface area in the
lungs. Why is a large surface
are so important?

4
A. for energy storage
B. to remove toxins from the
blood
C. to store oxygen for future
use
D. for gas exchange
E. for the krebs cycle
When do the alveoli develop Describe the stages of lung
in lungs in humans? development:
A. during the first 1-2 years of
life
B. in the 1-5th week of
pregnancy
C. between 3 and 5 years of
age
D. during the last 6 weeks of
pregnancy
E. continually throughout a *Bonus Question: How do
person's lifetime you think second-hand
smoke may affect a child?
Explain

Which of the following causes How is that attributed to the

the most deaths in the US? most deaths?
A. AIDS
B. motor vehicles
C. homicide
D. smoking
E. alcohol

Which statement do you agree Explain why.

with?

A. Environmental tobacco
smoke (ETS), also known as
second-hand smoke, has LESS
toxic compounds than directly
inhaled tobacco smoke.
B. Environmental tobacco
smoke (ETS), also known as About how many toxic
second-hand smoke, has compounds are in cigarette
MORE toxic compounds than smoke?
directly inhaled tobacco
smoke.

5
What is PM10? How does this hurt the
lungs?
A. the number of packs per
day that cause lung cancer in
10% of the population
B. particles which are small
enough to be deposited in the
lungs
C. a measure of the amount of
pollen in a certain volume of
air
D. a measure of the severity of
an asthma attack

Oxidants are one toxic What disease can be the end

component of cigarette smoke. result of this damage?
Why are they dangerous?

A. They block surfactant

secretion so that alveoli
collapse.
B. They block the oxygen
carrying capacity of
hemoglobin.
C. They cause cilia to quit
beating so lungs get clogged
with particles.
D. They can damage the DNA
of lung cells much like the sun
damages skin cells.

Asthma is caused by List three responses in the

decreased airflow in and out of lung that cause asthma.
the lungs due to:

A. small abnormalities in
airways
B. reversible bronchial spasms
C. destruction of alveolar
walls
D. allergic reaction in lung What is a “trigger?” List 2
tissues examples.